Control apparatus



.July 20 1948 L F. Ln'rwlN CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1945 Patented 'July 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE connor. APPARATUS Leo F. Llttwin, Chicagmlll. Application April 2, 1945, serial No. 586,231

(c1. 17a-32o) 7 Claims. 1

This-invention relates to control apparatus.

In the use of rectifiers employing mercury-vapor rectifier tubes, it is the general practice to delay imposing a full load on the rectifier until the tubes have been raised to a proper temperature. In fact, manufacturers of such tubes frequently instruct users to that effect since a full load placed on a tube before the iilament has reached a proper temperature produces sputtering and arcing and rapid deterioration of the filament with resultant short tube life.' Hence rectiflers for passing relatively heavy current in particular, as for industrial machines, generally are provided with time-delay means which ailord a period for heating the tubes before the full load is placed on the rectifier. Such time delay means have been of various types such as relaycontrolled timers, clock controlled mechanism and the like which, when the input circuit to-the rectifier is interrupted, even momentarily, delay the reoperation of the rectifier during the particular recycling period inherent in the control mechanism notwithstanding that upon mere momentary interruption of the circuit the tubes are suillciently heated to enable them to Iresume full load immediately without resulting damage. Such timers also may not afford the desired protectionto the tubes under all conditions inasmuch as the fixed cycling period of a timer, giving a. fixed period of delay in rectier action, may not be adequate under some conditions, as un` der varying ambient temperatures aiecting the tubes.

Itis an object of the present invention to provide a time control apparatus which is responsive to temperature conditions affecting or determined by a control tube whereby imposition of a full load on the rectier, starting from a cold condition, or reimposition of the load after only a momentary interruption of the rectifier input circuit is dependent upon the optimum heat requirements of the rectifier tubes. Hence with the present arrangement a longer pre-heat perlod will be required to condition the tubes for operation where ambient temperatures are lower than where they are higher and resumption of load, after momentary circuit interruption will be substantiallysimultaneous with the re-closing of the input circuit where the rectifier tubes are at a proper operating condition.

Another speciiic object of the invention is to provide a. time control apparatus for a rectifier having rectifier tubes, which apparatus is responsive to ambient temperatures affecting a tube yof the control apparatus which temperatures will likewise affect the rectifier tubes.

'A more specific-object of the invention is to provide a control apparatus of the type mentioned employing a grid controlled tube, the voltage on which' grid is built up to the critical or operating value by a voltage shiftfrom the tube filament.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control apparatus employing a grid controlled tube which is adapted to afford protection to the tubes of a rectiiier but which affords protection to the control tube also.

Other objects of the invention relate to various features of arrangement of parts of the control apparatus, which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specication and accompanying drawing wherein a circuit diagram of the improvements is shown in conjunction with a rectifier that is controlled by the apparatus.

In the drawing I0 indicates generally a cur- I rent rectifier 'of conventional form employing two mercury vapor rectifying tubes II and I2 which cooperate to rectify the two half Waves of an alternating current supplied by input leads I3 and I4 for delivery of a D. C. current load through the output leads I5 and I6 to a device to be operated, as an electric magnet for example, not shown.

Assuming that A. C. current is supplied to the rectifier III from input leads I3 and I4 by closing main switch I1 and that the rectifier tubes are cold, the rectifier I0 will not Vdeliver its full current load to the device to be operated by reason of an open switch I8 in the output conductor I5. Direct current potentials will be imposed on the leads I5 and I6-,'however, as the tubes II and I2 are heated up by current from secondary winding S of the transformer of the rectifier I0, and sumcient current will flow through the tubes II and I2 and in the control device to heat the tubes to a desired operating temperature in a period of time dependent generally on ambient temperature andother conditions.

The control device illustrated comprises a grid controlled tube I9 shown as having two control grids 20 and 2l preferably, although, as hereinafter mentioned, a tube With a single grid may be employed for attaining some of the advantages of the invention under conditions where ambient temperature conditions are not an important factor in determining tube life.

The tube I9 has a lament 23, by means of which the tube is'initially heated by direct current and an anode 24 and a cathode 25 between Y which current ows, when the propel temperature conditions have been attained, for energizing'a solenoid 25 which is operatively connected to and closes the output current switch I8 and also moves a double pole switch 21 from the full line position to the dotted line position. When the solenoid 25 has been so operated, the full current load is delivered by the rectifier and, as hereinafter explained, the iiow of current from the anode 24 to the cathode 25 is thereupon interrupted for prolonging the tube life, although A. C. current then iiows through the filament 23 :from the secondary Sa of the rectiiier transformer T to retain the tube at a proper operating temperature so long as the main switch I1 is closed.

The function oi.' the control apparatus may be described as follows, it being assumed that the rectifier tubes II and I2 and control tube I9 are cold and that the main switch I1 has just been closed.

Current from the positive output conductor I will flow through current limiting resistors 30, 3| and 32 to the switch arm 21a, conductor 34,

to the filament 23, conductor 35 and resistors 36,'

31 and 38 to the conductor I6. A potential that is negative with respect to the potential of the input lead I5 will be imposed on the grid 20 by reason of its vconnection through resistors 30, 3|, and v32 and with conductor 34 through aresistor 39. This potential is a blocking 'potential and prevents the passage of current by the elements 24 and 25. As the temperature of the iilament 23- increases, its resistance increases, thus increasing the potential drop across. the iilament and decreasing the negative potential of the grid 20, or making it more positive. The resulting decrease in the negative potential of the grid 20 brings the potential to that required in the particular style of tube used, such as -4 volts, for permitting the tube to pass current Irom the anode 24 to the cathode 25, assuming that the other grid 2| has been omitted or is rendered ineffective by the closing of a switch 4U.

The described voltage shift to the grid will give it a -critical or tube operating potential and will permit the tube to pass current only when the iilament has reached the proper operating temperatures, whereupon the solenoid 26 is operated to close the output switch I8 and to shift the double pole switch 21 from the full line to the dotted line position. The closing of the switch i8 enables the rectier to pass its full current load to the device to be operated, not shown. The heating of tube I9 to the proper operating temperature will be concurrent with the heating of the tubes II and I2 to proper temperature and hence the latter do not come into full load operation until tube I9, having similar heating characteristics, and inclosed in the same casing, not shown, has arrived at the proper operating ternperature and has passed current to actuate the solenoid.

When the critical negative or operating potential of the grid has been reached such as 4 volts for example, current will flow from lead i5 to conductor 4I, through the solenoid winding, conductor 42, conductor 43 to the anode 24 and thence to the cathode 25 and through conductor 44 to a variable resistor 46, resistors 31 and 38 to the lead I6.

When the double pole switch 21 has been shifted by the solenoid, as stated above, the solenoid is energized by iiow of current through conductor 4 I, the solenoid winding, conductor. 42 switcn arm 21b (then in the upper or dotted position) conductor 45, conductor 35 and thence through resistors 38, 31, 38 to the lead I6. In this position of the switch 21 the lower larm 21a makes contact with arm 21h to close the circuit of secondary S* for effecting the heating of the iilament 23 by A. C. current from the transformer T. The solenoid remains so energized until the switch I1 -is opened or until there is otherwise an interruption in the input current, whereupon the solenoid will, by reason of conventional spring action, open the switch I8 and also switch 21. If such interruption is momentary and current in the leads I3, I4 is reestablished before there is any substantial change in the temperature, of the tube I9 (and hence in tubes II and I2). the tube I9'will immediately pass current to the solenoid as above explained and reclose switch I8 and again move switch 21 to the dotted line position. Under such conditions no recycling delay is incurred as where mechanical time control devices are employed.

Whenever the switch 21 is in the dotted line position and the full load from the rectifier is betection aiorded to them by the time-delay action of the apparatus described.

I have found in many instances where the ambient temperature of the tubes II, I2 and I9 varies considerably, that it is desirable to employ an additional grid 2| in such relation that the potential thereof is utilized in conjunction with the potential of grid 20, for controlling the operation of the tube I9 and rendering the tube operative only when the ambient temperature is at a. predetermined minimum notwithstanding that the filament 23 may have been raised previously to proper operating temperature. For this purpose I provide a compensating Winding or resistor 41 on or about the envelope of the tube, the winding being of Hytempco or like material, the electric resistance of which appreciably in- 4creases or decreases with increase or decrease respectively in temperatures in the lower tempera' ture ranges. 'I'he winding 41 is connected to the positive lead I5 through conductor 48, resistors 49, 50, and conductor 5I and by .zonductor 52 the winding is connected to the negative lead I6. A conductor 53 having a current limiting resistor 54 connected therein, connects conductor 5I to the grid 2i. As the filament 23 heats up as above described, the envelope of the tube I9 also heats up as does the immediately surrounding air. The same is true of the tubes II and I2, that is, they become heated in time by their respective lilaments. However, the heating of the tube envelopes is affected by the temperature of the surrounding air and the filaments of the tubes II and I2 may reach approximately the predetermined temperatui'e before the mercury of the tubes has adequately vaporized in instances where the ambient temperature of the tubes is relatively low for example. The compensator Winding 41 of tube I9 is responsive to the ambient temperature of the tube I9 and hence it is desirable in many instances', as stated, to delay the passing of current by the tube I9 until the ambient temperature thereof has risen to a predetermined value such that the mercury will have beenI adequately vaporized in all the tubes.

sistors 49 and 80 is decreased, thereby making more positive or less negative the potential on the grid ZI.- Until the cooperative control potentials on the two grids have reached proper or critical values which may be -2 volts -in each instance, the tube I9 will not pass current. Hence with the switch 40 o'pened, where such a switch is employed, the ambient temperature of the tube I 9 also becomes a controlling factor in the operation of the tube. Since the rectifier III and the improved control device preferably are built as a unit and mounted within the same casing', the tubes I I and I2 are subjected to the same ambient temperature that affects tube I9. The values of the various resistors being properly selected, it is assured that the tubes I I and I2 will be in proper condition for delivery of full load whenever the tube I9 passes current to the solenoid under the cooperative control oi the two grids 20 and 2l the critical or operating potentials of which are derived from the voltage shift to the grids that occurs by reason of the increase in resistance acl companying the predetermined increases in temperature of the iilament 23 and winding 41 respectively.

While I have shown and described an embodiment of the invention for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent that the principle of the invention canbe utilized in modications of the particular circuit disclosed.

I claim:

1. Time control apparatus for a rectifier provided with rectifying tubes that require heating to an operating temperature before delivery to the load circuit of full load to avoid damage to the tubes, the time control apparatus comprising a circuit, a switch for opening and closing the output circuit, said circuit including electrically actuated means for closing said switch, a tube having a illament circuit connected across the leads of said output circuit, an anode and cathode in the tube connected across said leads and in circuit with said electrically actuated means for eil'ecting actuation of the latter when the tube passes current, and a current -control grid in the tube connected to the iilament circuit of the tube for receiving initially therefrom a current blocking potential which is altered to a current passing potential by means of a voltage shift from the filament by the heating of the filament to a predetermined temperature.

2. Time control apparatus for an alternating current rectifier having rectifying tubes that require heating to a predetermined temperature before delivery of full load by the rectifier to avoid tube damage and having direct current output leads, said apparatus comprising a switch for controlling the ilow of output current through said leads, a circuit including electrically actuated means for closing said switch, a tube having a nlament circuit connected across said leads for heating to a predetermined operating temperature, anode and cathode elements in the tube for passing current to said means for effecting actuation thereof, and a grid in the tube connected in the filament circuit whereby shifting voltage in the circuit resulting from increasing resistance of the filament as the same is being heated to said operating temperature varies the potential of said grid for eilecting the passing of current by said elements.

3. Time control apparatus for an alternating current rectiiler having direct current output 6 f leads, said apparatus comprising a normally open switch in one of said leads for controlling the i'low of output current from the rectifier, a circuit -including electrically operated means for closingv said switch, a tube having anode and cathode ele'- ments for passing operating current to said means, a filament in said tube having acircuit connected across said leads, and a current control grid in the tube connected to said illament circuit and responsive to the potential shifting in the filament circuit for eilecting the blocking -or passing of current by said elements when the temperature of the lilament is below or at a predetermined temperature, respectively.

4. Time control apparatus for an alternating current rectifier provided with rectifier tubes that require heating to apredetermined temperature before delivery of'full current load to avoid damage and having direct current output leads, said apparatus comprising a sw-itch in one of the output leads, a circuit including electrically operated means for closing said switch, a control, tube provided with a heating lament circuit connected across said leads, current passing elements in the control tube for supplying operating current tov said means, a control grid in the controlv tube adapted to block the passage of current by said elements while the potential of the grid is below a critical current passing potential, said gr-id being connected to the filament circuit of the tube whereby the impressed potential of the grid reaches a current passing value by voltage shift from the filament as the filament reaches anoperating temperature, and means operable by said electrically operated means for terminating the passage of current by said tube elements upon the closing of said switch.

5. A timer for delaying the delivery of a full output current load by an alternating current rectier having mercury vapor rectifier tubes util said tubes are heated to a predetermined operating temperature and having direct current output leads having a switch therein, said timer comprising Ia circuit including a control tube having a heating lament, a circuit for the filament connected across said leads, current passing elements in the control tube, means operable by lcurrent from said elements for closing said switch. a grid in the control tube connected to the illament circuit and having a potential impressed from said circuit of a value to block4 the passing of current by said elements when said filament is below a predetermined temperature, a second grid in said control tube, and a winding exterior- 1y of the tube having a circuit connected across said leads and connected to said second grid for impressing a current blocking potential thereon when the ambient temperature of the tube affecting said Winding is below a predetermined value whereby the shifting of potentials to said grids by the increase in temperature of said illament and windingto predetermined temperatures produce non-blocking grid potentials and enable said elements to pass operating current to said means for effecting the closing of said switch.

6. For use with an alternating current rectier having mercury vapor rectifier tubes that require pre-heating to avoid damaglethereto and current output leads, a timer for delaying delivery of full current load by said rectifier comprising a normally open switch in one of said leads, a circuit including electrically operated means for operating the switch to closed position, a control tube having current passing elements adapted to pass operating current to said antenas means, a iament within the, controi tube hav ing heating characteristics similar to the heating characteristics of the tubes of .said rectiiier and having a circuit connected across said leads, a winding exteriorly of said control tube subjected tothe same ambient temperature as that oi said re-ctiier tubes 'and having a circuit connected across said leads, and grids in said contrai tuoe one connected to the 4circuit of said iilament and the other to the circuit of said winding for receiving therefrom respectively impressed potentiais of values that cooperate to bloot; the passage of current by said elements while the temperatures of said lament and winding are below predetermined values 'and that cooperate teefiect the passing of current by said eiements when said temperatures reach saidrespective predetermined values.

7. A timer comprising a tube having current pa-ssingelements, an electric circuit providing a source of potential, a grid in the tube connected in the circuit and adapted to have impressed thereon a potential or a value normally to block the passage of current by said elements, a re sistor connected in the v'circuit emeriorly of the tube and subject to the ambient temperatures thereof, and a second grid in the tube connected tc the circuit or said resistor whereby as said resister'A reaches a predetermined temperature' a potential is shifted to said grid by said lresistor of a value to cooperate with the potential oi' said irst grid to effect the passing of current by said elements.

LEO F. LI'ITWIN.

REFERENCES CITEDI The following references are of record in they file of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 487,385 Germany Dec. 14, 192e 

